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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS TO LAST A LIFETIME 4NorthwestNorthwestseptember 2007 • Volume 14 • Number 5 FAMILYFAMILY Cat crew students help freshmen move into the new residence halls. 4Current Bearcats share tips with students and parents 4 INSIDE 4Need a haircut? Maryville services from A to Z Division of Enrollment Management Non Profit U.S. POSTAGE PAID 800 University Drive Maryville, MO Maryville, MO 64468-6001 Permit 215 IN THE SPOTLIGHT 43 Academic resources FACULTY/STAFF FOCUS Take my advice Academic advisors play key role at Northwest cademic advisors are some of the are set up in a fair- most influential people students like environment Awill ever encounter at Northwest, to provide infor- according to the University’s assistant mation regarding director of advising. all majors for Brad Landhuis said Northwest’s students who have advising system, which is faculty based, not yet declared a stresses the important role advisors play as major or are think- guides to a student’s academic success. But ing of changing they’re more than that, a lot more. their major. “They are role models, career coaches, n Career mentors for students and sometimes just Services Resource an ear, someone the student can talk to,” Library – Contains Landhuis said. “A student may have a books, periodicals, personal issue they’re dealing with and just videos, DVDs and need someone who is looking out for their much more on the best interests. Academic advisors often fill latest career related Whether it’s a personal issue or academic concern, students can go to their advisor for help. that role.” topics. All full-time faculty at Northwest n DISCOVER – An online tool that serve as academic advisors. First-time can help assess interests, values and abili- employer types and strategies designed to freshmen are grouped by major with a ties as they relate to the “world of work.” maximize their career opportunities. Freshman Seminar instructor. That in- n Employer Services – Online job For all of the above services, go to: structor also serves as the students’ advisor and internship posting, resume referrals, www.nwmissouri.edu/careerserv/. throughout the first trimester. career events, and on-campus interviewing Advising ranked first “Studies indicate that 65 to 85 is offered. According to a survey of more than percent of college students change their n Internship/Job Listings – Students 100,000 students at four-year public major,” Landhuis said. “And about 20 to can register with the Office of Career colleges and universities, compiled from 25 percent of our students are deciding, so Services and take full advantage of the 2003-2006, students rated academic easily three-fourths of our students either system. This database is updated daily. advising as the most important area of haven’t decided on a major or change their n Internship Search Assistance – The the college experience. Landhuis said the major. That makes advising all the more Career Services Web site provides infor- survey, conducted by Noel-Levitz Inc., critical.” mation about how to get started with an provides important data to Northwest. internship search along with regional and Academic resources “Academic advising is a highly valued national listings of available internships. Northwest’s Advisement Assistance part of the university experience,” he said. n Job Search Assistance – Career and Resource Office works closely with “With that come expectations of students Services assist in outlining a deliberate the staffs of the Registrar’s Office, Admis- and parents. We expect students to take strategy for a personal job search. sions Office, Freshman Seminar, Career ownership in their education. We give n On-Campus Interviewing – Em- Services and Mabel Cook Admissions to them a lot of options, and they need to ployers travel to campus to interview help with orientation and registration of explore those options. candidates for all types of positions – new students and the retention of current “Parents should be aware that we full-time, part-time, and internships. students. Many resources are available to want to be true to the students and honor n What Can I Do With This Major? students throughout the academic year, their confidentiality. We can talk to par- – This Web site helps students connect including: ents in general terms, but students need to majors with potential careers. For each n Exploring Majors – Oct. 2, 2007, make some of these important decisions major that interests a student, they will n and Feb. 12, 2008. Academic departments for themselves with proper advisement.” find a list of common career areas, typical SEPTEMBER 2007 IN THE SPOTLIGHT SSTUDENT SPOTLIGHT 4 Tips from the pros Students pass along advice to freshmen, parents f only I had known then what I know now. If I could turn back the clock: “I probably wouldn’t have joined a How many times have you said that, or at least thought sorority, because it put me in debt with my parents. I also would have it? Hindsight may be 20/20, but first-year students, and their been better at getting things done and not putting them off.” I Advice to parents: “Don’t let the fact that your child is going off parents, often don’t get the opportunity to see that clearly as they feel their way through the first few months at Northwest. to college get to you. Don’t worry about what they’re doing all the time and how late they’re staying out at night.” Luckily for them, the following Northwest students have gone through the process and were willing to share advice on Megan Walker everything from study habits to extracurricular activities. Junior, memphis, mo. In the beginning: “I remember saying good- Nisha bharti bye to my parents, and I cried a little bit. Late senior, lexington, mo. that first night, I cried myself to sleep. Those first In the beginning: “My first day of Advantage couple of days were awful. But the third day, I I was really nervous. I came up with a friend, and said this is OK. we lived together. I was overwhelmed. It didn’t “I had e-mailed my roommate before coming hit me until I was driving up here that I was to campus. We went to everything at Advantage, starting college. When I got here, there were all Megan Walker and we met a lot of people. You have to immerse of these people on the yard of my residence hall, yourself in the campus and what it has to offer.” Phillips Hall. I didn’t know what to do. Advice to students: “I got really involved that first trimester. I ap- Nisha Bharti “My roommate and I kept our door open, plied to become an Ambassador. I joined a sorority. I became really close and we went all around the hall. I think we went to the girls in Phillips Hall. And don’t give up on your major if that first to Wal-Mart about 20 times that day.” trimester doesn’t go well. Keep after it.” Advice to students: “Come with an open mind. Always keep your If I could turn back the clock: “I wish I would have studied more. door open, you’ll attract a lot of people. Have plenty of minutes on your I came from a small high school and graduated with a 3.98 GPA. I un- phone, because you’ll call home a lot at the start.” derestimated the college courses. My first trimester was the worst GPA I If I could turn back the clock: “I wished I had gone to more stu- had. I failed my first test in college. I was devastated. I cried in my room dent organization meetings. I was intimidated by not knowing anyone. and called my Mom.” But getting involved your freshman year leads to more leadership op- Advice to parents: “Send cards, candy. It’s nice to know you’re being portunities down the road. I joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, but I thought of. And at the end, during finals, always send a care package. wish I’d done more.” Call, but not too much, maybe once a week.” Advice to parents: “Always send stuff in the mail. A care package is really exciting. Postcards are good. It’s nice to get stuff in the mail.” Alex Drury senior, blue springs, mo. Toni Caligiuri Alex Drury had plenty of anxiety when he sophomore, Kansas City, mo. arrived in Maryville as a first-time freshman. He In the beginning: “That first week I was worried if college would be harder. He worried nervous trying to find my classes in the different about the workload. buildings. I was nervous because I didn’t really But once his mid-term grades were in the know what to expect. books, and they were good, he started to get to “In my Introduction to Media Advertising know more people, became more comfortable and class, I found out on the first day that this proj- got involved. Alex Drury ect included seven spreadsheets and was worth In the beginning: “Just get involved in Toni Caligiuri 30 percent of my grade. That ended up being my something, whether it’s intramurals, an organization or a fraternity or favorite class.” sorority. Typically, students in organizations do well academically.” Advice to students: “Get involved in at least one activity. Secondly, Advice to students: “Leave your door open and stop and meet other don’t procrastinate, that’s when people get stressed. people. Call your parents every few days to let them know you’re alive. “Don’t skip class and don’t party too much. I know some friends And don’t skip classes.